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Web of Secrets (7) : Spiders have settled in all across town, and while this isn’t normally any great cause for concern, inky black spiders are oddly common. The spiders themselves are not very threatening–small, nonpoisonous, and cowardly. The interesting thing about them is their black webbing–and the strange designs they make. Webs appear overnight, often seeming to come out of nowhere. They are curiously designed, almost as if made to deliberately spell out something. People all over town have mentioned finding webs that spell out a single word, or part of a sentence. Maybe it’s just imagination, but as the days go on, the words seem to be clearer–and the messages are often uncomfortable or distressing. There’s no evidence that the spiders can spell or are trying to send messages, but really–is it that hard to believe? Once a spider has left a message, it disappears. They are masterful escape artists and cannot be caught. There’s no telling what the spiders want you to know, but maybe if you’re lucky one will leave you a message you understand.
Yesterday, Noa had encountered a spider while walking from dance class. The eight legged buddy didn't scare her, but she was fascinated by the fact that it seemed to be making some sort of odd webbing? Today as she walked by, she stopped and yes she squatted in the middle of the sidewalk, to take another look at what the webbing could possibly be. She thought maybe she could see some sort of shape or fun design, but upon further inspection…It looked like a word was forming. Tilting her head, she tried to make it out but still couldn't see much. Maybe if she stared at it some more?
“Little guy, what are you making?”
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The creepy little messages in black web hadn’t gone unnoticed, but Mel for the most part had been trying to ignore them after the first message she came across said “coward” in all caps. It didn’t seem very possible that it had been for her, but considering she saw the eight-legged critter skitter away as she came across it, she might have been the first to see the message in its completed form. So.
She had a bone to pick with the darn things, not to mention she already wasn’t a huge fan of the things being in her immediate vicinity. No insect really was, except for maybe ladybugs because they were good luck. Or at least, that’s what Jae had told her however long ago that was. The blonde settled on the thought of her ex with a little sigh, because things had gotten…better, but a more reasonable person would classify their relationship as “weird and unnecessary” versus how she thought of it as being a “recovering friendship.”
Yes, he probably had other motives. No, she wasn’t likely to fall for his BS for the umpteenth time. So no, she wasn’t worried about it. She probably ought to draw the line more clearly for him, but that was maybe a separate discussion.
Besides that…
The thought trailed away as she stepped past a young woman who was squatting in the middle of the sidewalk, talking to something. She wasn’t normally nosy, but Mel made a cursory glance to satisfy her curiosity, and when she saw the spider spinning its evil black web of a potentially insulting or hurtful message, she stopped in her tracks.
“The one I saw said ‘coward’,” she said, her irritation making way for insecurity as she heaved a sigh. “I hope this one’s a bit nicer. Can you make any letters out so far?”
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The spider kept spinning its web, drawing Noa in with each turn and twist. Slowly, she was starting to understand what was being written, or was it called webbing? Which caused her head to turn to the side while it was slowly starting to hit her…. “L-Liar?” Why would it say that? Sure, she's lied about plenty of things but it was all little white lies really. Besides, how the hell would the spider know anything about her being a liar? “That's not very nice you little eight-legged s**t.” As tempting as it would be to just mess up the webbing, Noa was not that mean nor was she brave enough to actually touch a spider’s web. For all she knew she could be seeing things and that was it.
She damn near jumped out of her skin when she heard someone talking behind her. Her head went backwards to look up at the stranger, “Apparently I'm a liar? I did not know the spider could read minds. Thing is, I don't really lie about anything.” Of course if she confirmed that she was a liar via spider telepathy then logic states the stranger wouldn't believe her in the first place.
Way to go Noa.
“It's not very nice to call someone from a species you can't communicate with a coward. I'm sorry.” She pulled her head forward, dusting herself off while standing. Looking up at the taller woman, Noa cleared her throat. “I think we should go on a spider crusade but then they would probably rebel and come up with something meaner. I'm Naoko by the way, I usually go by Noa~” She tilted her head to the side, said girl was indeed pretty. “What's your name? I'm totally positive it's not coward~”
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Mel noted the comment about not lying about anything and wondered if it was hyperbole, because everyone lied for one reason or another, well intended or otherwise. She chose not to comment, though, and simply gave her a sympathetic smile. Everyone exaggerated, too, didn’t they? She didn’t want to be quick to judge someone she just happened to pass by on the street.
“I’m sorry yours wasn’t any better than mine was,” she replied, gaze shifting back to the word written in black webbing. She couldn’t help but wonder if this had been meant for her as well, even if she hadn’t been the first to see it this time. What were the chances of someone across this kind of thing twice in the same week?
Knowing DC, though…
She tucked that thought away and instead focused on the ensuing conversation, her expression brightening some as the girl introduced herself. “Mel,” she said with a little giggle, “short for Pomelo, but no one ever calls me that.” Not that she hated her name. Actually, she loved her name, particularly because it was both a fruit as well as a play on her mother’s name–Pamela. But her nickname was easier to say, and a lot shorter, too.
“Nice to meet you, Noa. I was actually about to swing by a cafe just nearby to grab something sweet. You wanna come? Some sugar should help take our minds off of these stupid spiders.”
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Sugar?! She was always down for sugar!
Noa returned the bright smile with one of her own, looking back at the webbing with a huff, then back to the stranger who was now named Mel. “Nice to meet you too Mel~ Sugar would be perfect!” She could see about bringing some things home for Idri and Ainsley to eat…Well, mostly Ains. She was sure Idri would just nibble off of something she was eating. “So, with this cafe…Do you think they would have bobba?” Noa was also just thinking about ordering a nice and sweet coffee but she would see what flavors they had once they made it inside. Maybe by the end of this she could make a new friend?
its pao
